Apparatus for developing films



Sept. 5, 1933. I J. A. SAFFIR 1,925,154

APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING FILMS Filed Dec. 26, 1931 rwerzzor Patented Sept. 5, 1933 v7 APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING FILMS Jacob A. Saffir, Rockford, 111.

Application December 26, 1931 Serial No. 583,213

3 Claims. (Cl. 95-93) This invention relates to a method of and Figure 6 is an end view of the apparatus cormeans for developing photographic films, espe-. responding to that shown in Figures 4 or 5. cially such films as are of a comparatively small Reference may now behad more particularly size, such as X-ray films or the like. to the'form of my invention illustrated in Figure 5.1 In the development of photographic films it is l. The developing apparatus comprises a base 60 necessary to subject the films to successive chem- 1 to which is secured an upwardly extending ical actions and to thereafter wash the same standard 2 having a horizontal member 3 hinged with water. It is desirable that the film be thereto as by means of a hinge indicated at 4. agitated during the time it is being developed, The horizontal member has a U-shaped bracket j in order to procure an even development of the 5 secured to its lower side and depending to- 65 film. It is an object of this invention to provide Wards the base 1. A shaft 6 is rotatably mountan apparatus wherein the film can be placed for ed between the arms of the u -shaped bracket development purposes and which apparatus may d Carries an p arm A P 0f ubreceive the various tanks containing the various te y D Spring clips are ast ed to 15. reagents necessary for developing the film, all the L-shaped arm in any desired manner, as by 70 without manual handling of the partly developed W d the like. he arm 7 has a bent back film. The apparatus is provided with a tank reportion through which the Shaft 6 Passes and ceiving portion wherein there is removably placed whi h rri s a Stud 10 f r m v bly k yi h a tank containing the reagents necessary in the arm to the shaft.

' initial development of the film, The film is held The shaft 6 has a rotatable driving wheel se- 76 in a substantially C-shaped clip which is then cured thereto at 11 and adapted to rotate the lowered into the solution and suitably agitated Shaft- Achein the like, indicated 31712, peSSeS therein. After it has been in the developer soluv the driving Wheel a through 8- Suitable tion its prerequisite period of time the parts hold- Opening in the member 3 and around a drive ing th film are swung t of th t k d th wheel 14. The drive wheel 14 is keyed to a drive tank is replaced by another containing the fixing Shaft 16 t t is a i y the member 3 in y solution. The film holding portion of the appara- Su ta manner, as by means of p 0f b ackets tus is then swung into this second tank where h Shaft 161$ adapted to be turned by the fixing takes place, This procedure is 11 means Of a handle 20 t0 thereby turn the shaft 30 peated until the film has been fully developed and 6 and the Clips washed. The apparatus is adapted to impart In order to use the apparatus shown in Figure continuous or intermittent motion to the film 1 the member 3 is swung ab ut its hinge in a thereby keeping th film constantly moving clockwise direction to elevate the mechanism carthrough the solution and maintaining the soluried by the bracket 5. One or more films are then tion itself in constant motion, or keeping the film Placed in the Clips I have indicated such and the solution in only intermittent motion, as films at 6- The lower edge of the fi ay d h film may b given any desired type engage the extension 2'7, as in the case of the film of motion, for instance, an upand down motion, 25, it may engage the v d y portion a side to Side motion, an end to end motion, as in the case of film 26. A tank, such as indi- 40 a Swirling or rotating motion, or any combina cated at so, containing the developing solution is tion of the sauna placed upon the base 1 and the horizontal member The attainment of the above and further obthen Pt the positton indicated'm J'ects of the present invention will be apparent fi Tms E i f the develop from the following specification taken in conso u T e. e 20 1s then turned to 4o rotate the shaft 6 and thereby move the films cinnamon Wlth the accompanymg drawmg form within the solution. The handle is preferably mg a part turned rather slowly and, in order to further In the drawing:

i reduce the speed of rotation of the shaft 6, I Figure 1 1s a s1de View, in part1alsect1on,illususe a Small drive Wheel on the haft 16 and a 50 trating one embodiment of my i ve larger drive wheel on the shaft 6. This, how- Figure 2 i a fr y nd vi w showin ever, is optional. After the film has been in a portion of the apparatus; the developer solution the required length of time Figures 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary diagramthe member 3 is swung about its hinge to bring matic views illustrating modified forms of my the apparatus carried thereby out of the tank 55 invention; and 30. The tank may then be removed and replaced in Figure 1.

. solution within the tank. The shaft 50' by a different tank containing the fixing solution. The member 3 is then again lowered to the position shown in Figure 1 and the handle 20 is again turned to turn the films within the fixing solution. This procedure may be repeated for the subsequent washing of the film.

While I have herein shown a chain 12 for transmitting the motion to the shaft 6 it is of course to be understood that any other well known motion transmitting means or gear may be used. Also the shaft 16 may be replaced by a small electric motor and suitable speed reducing gearing, if desired.

In Figure 3, I show an arrangement wherein the clips 8-3 are secured to a belt or other conveyor 40 which moves on two pulleys indicated at 41 and 42. One of these pulleys, preferably the pulley 41 comprises the driving pulley and it is supported in any desired manner, as from the horizontal member 3 of Figure 1. In this case, it is to be noted that as each clip passes over the upper pulley 41 it passes out of the developing solution within the tank Thus each film is alternately dipped into and out of the developing solution.

In Figure 4, I show an arrangement wherein a shaft 50, which corresponds to the shaft 6 of Figure 1, extends vertically instead of horizontally. This shaft may be supported from an apparatus'such as is shown in Figure 1 in any desired manner and may be rotated in any well known desired manner. For this purpose I have shown a sprocket 51 secured to the shaft 50.

.A shaft 50' is detachably secured to the shaft 50 as by means of a collar 52. The clips 8 are secured to the shaft 50 and extend radially outwardly therefrom. In Figure 4, I have shown three clips secured to one side of the shaft and .three more clips secured to the other side of 40 the shaft. The two lower sets of clips are shown as holding X-ray films wrapped in their original package and adapted to be developed within the package in the manner disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 570,841, filed October 24, 1931. It is, of course, to be understood that an ordinary X-ray film may be placed in those clips in lieu of the films there shown. As the shaft is rotated the films are moved through the 1s adapte to be elevated from the developing tank in the manner illustrated in Figure 1.

In Figure 5, I have shown a fragmentary portion of a modification of the structure shown This structure differs from that of Figure 1 in that the shaft 6' of Figure 5 is in alignment with the shaft 6, being removably secured thereto in any desired manner, as by means of a collar which receives the ends of the shafts 66 and is secured to both of them by radially extending studs. The shaft 6 carries the film clips. ly to this shaft rather than through the arm '7 of Figure 1. I have herein shown five clips secured to this shaft in spaced relation. It is to be noted that the clips are arranged to hold the films at an angle to the axis of the shaft, the angle is such that all of the films constitute portions of the surface of a screw propeller for propelling the liquid within the developing tank in a generally forward direction. By this arrangement the liquid within the enclosing tank is effectively circulated and any foreign matter The clips 8-8 are secured directthat may be present is washed from the surface of the film due to the inherent washing action of the liquid moving along the surface of the film.

If desired, the clips 8 may be secured to the shaft in such position as to radiate therefrom in substantially Y formation as seen in end view. This is illustrated in Figure 6. This arrangement is applicable to the forms of my invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. If desired, the film holding clips in Figure 4 may be mounted degrees apart, rather than 120 degrees apart as shown in Figure 6, or 180 degrees apart as shown in Figure 4, or they may be spaced apart any other desired angular distance.

From the description thus far given it is apparent that I have provided a simple machine for developing a large number of films whether the films are in their original wrapping or are unwrappedfilms. It is of course understood that if the present device is used for developing unwrapped films it must be used in a dark room or the like. My device is simple in its construction and operation and requires a negligible amount of attention or handling of the films.

I claim:

1. Film developing apparatus comprising an upright standard, a horizontal member hinged to said standard, a rotatable shaft carried by the horizontal member and depending therefrom, film receiving spring clips carried by the shaft and movable therewith, means on the horizontal member for rotating said shaft to rotate said clips, a liquid receiving tank beneath the horizontal member and into which the shaft extends, said horizontal member being hinged about a horizontal pivot to permit vertical swinging of the horizontal member to move the shaft out of the tank.

2. Film developing apparatus comprising a base, an upright standard thereon, a horizontal member carried by the standard above the base, a removable tank supported on the base beneath the horizontal member, a bracket secured to the under side of the member and depending into the tank, arotatable shaft mounted on the lower end of the bracket, a film receiving clip carriedby the shaft and rotatable thereby in the tank. a driving wheel keyed to the shaft for driving the same, a driving shaft carried by the horizontal member on the upper side thereof, and a driving connection between the last mentioned shaft and the driving wheel.

3. Film developing apparatus comprising a base, an upright standard thereon, a horizontal member carried by the standard above the base, a removable tank supported on the base beneath the horizontal member, a bracket secured to the under side of the member and depending into the tank, a rotatable shaft mounted on the lower end of the bracket, a film receiving clip carried by the shaft and rotatable thereby in the tank, a driving wheel keyed to the shaft for driving the same, a driving shaft carried by the horizontal memberon the upper side thereof, and a driving connection between the last mentioned shaft and the driving wheel, said horizontal member with the parts carried thereby being swingable as a unit with respect to the base to permit removal and replacement of the tank.

JACOB A. SAFFIR. 

